Natural History Artist Zickefoose Speaks In Miami Valley

NPR Commentator and natural history writer and artist, Julie Zickefoose, lives in a farm in southeastern Ohio. But this week, she's in the Miami Valley leading a workshop for the Tecumseh Land Trust's 20th anniversary celebration. Zickefoose is an avid observer of birds, and says that this time of year is her favorite for bird watching in southern Ohio.

"This may surprise people that know that there's a spring migration that's so wonderful. But actually, for a naturalist, fall has already started. What's happening now is this flood of birds migrating south from their norther breeding grounds," says Zickefoose.

Zickefoose says bird watching is best now through mid August, when the migration is at its peak. She adds that this area is unique and home to many different types of bird species at one time or another.

"Southern Ohio is a wonderful mix of the north and the south coming together. So, we have bird species that we would normally associate with a northerly climb meeting bird species with a more southerly climb, so there is great diversity," says Zickefoose.

The best places for bird watching are in, what she calls, edge habitats, like where woodland meets meadow. She'll be giving a presentation on her observances Thursday night at 7 at Antioch University Midwest.